Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: pembroke on December 15, 2006, 11:51:45 AM

Title: melting wax ???
Post by: pembroke on December 15, 2006, 11:51:45 AM
I'm melting wax this morning and have tried to do this before with mixed results :-\. NO problem getting it milted and poured into container :lol:. PROBLEM: getting it out of container!!!!! :-x Please tell me secret to this problem. Thanks for your help and support.  Pembroke
Title: Re: melting wax ???
Post by: Jorn Johanesson on December 15, 2006, 12:32:03 PM
When wax is pured into forms you have to wait until it has totaly cooled. If still have problems put the form with wax in the freezer, but this should not be needed.
Title: Re: melting wax ???
Post by: Mici on December 15, 2006, 12:37:55 PM
aha, i think i know what your problem is. it gets stuck to the container huh? i think, moisturising the container would help a lot. i've always melted my wax in water, and so, i poured it in the container mixed with water, after it cooled down, i removed the wax without problems, maybe just a small belt of it was stuck onto the container.
Title: Re: melting wax ???
Post by: Kathyp on December 15, 2006, 01:09:10 PM
if all else fails, you can dip the container in boiling water for just a few seconds.  this works well with metal molds.  not so well with silicone or plastic molds.  you can also buy "mold release" spray, but i have had mixed results with it.  especially in older molds.

on other thing i have been told, but have not tried....grease mold with a light coat of olive oil before pouring wax.

if you are just melting wax to store in blocks, invest in some non-stick loaf pans.  the wax blocks come right out. 

Title: Re: melting wax ???
Post by: Michael Bush on December 15, 2006, 03:36:14 PM
First, you always have some water in the wax.  This will settle to the bottom so the bottom of the wax is not stuck.

Second, use old cardboard milk cartons.  They will work better and you can cut them off of the block when you are done.

Also the ratio of dirty (to be scrapped off) to clean will be better because the ratio of the bottom surface to the volume is lower.